Clifton Alliance clinched the Hunters the estate agent York Senior Cricket League premier division championship for the second time when they played out a safe draw at Heworth.

Alliance, who won the crown in 1999, required seven points to put themselves beyond the reach of second-placed Dunnington. Heworth set 168-6 with Colin de Grandhomme making 58 and Ian Wilson 37 as James Postill took 3-42. Clifton then had a 91 run start by Danny Harris (75) and Dave Taylor (44) but took no risks as they moved to a draw - and 14 points - at 156-4.

Much of the day's drama was in the lower reaches of the division where Malton & Old Malton took themselves into a safe berth by beating Acomb by five wickets.

Andy Tute (28) and Scott Nicholls (38) were two of the three batsmen to fall before Sanjay Rodrigo made 65no and Richard Sykes 54no to take them to 200-3. In reply, Gary Hall hit 31 as Dave Sykes claimed 3-30 as Malton slipped to 99-5. An injury to Sykes then handicapped the home attack and Malton were taken to a fine win as Greg Johnson, with 94no and Danny Foxton (45no) posted an unbeaten stand of 104.

Just six days after winning the National Village Trophy at Lord's, Sheriff Hutton Bridge find themselves relegated despite inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on third-placed Sessay.

Mike Smith claimed 6-25 in a 22-over spell and with Paul Oldfield taking 3-12, Sessay were dismissed for 99. Ian Clish responded with 43 while Lord's hero Steve Crowder was unbeaten with 25.

Beverley's chances of grabbing the runners-up spot at the expense of visiting Dunnington were ended when their guests emerged with a 51-run advantage.

Dunnington's 206-6 came mainly from Simon Kellett (80no) and Paul Miles who made 67. Beverley teenager Peter Groves then hit 87 and Jamie Mitchell 54 but their team-mates fared badly as Kellett completed a fine all-round performance by claiming 6-57 as Beverley were dismissed for 155.

Easingwold trounced a hapless Osbaldwick side by 206 runs after hitting their highest-ever premier division total when they made 326-6.

Osbaldwick's bowlers were initially plundered by Jonathon Marwood (80), Martin Piercy (39) and Martin Robinson (27) before being put to the sword by Paul Skilbeck who dominated an unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Paul Redshaw.

They added 107 runs when the overs expired, Skilbeck's 17-over innings saw him hit ten sixes in an unbeaten 121 while Redshaw made 23no. In reply, Richie Carew made 29 and Peter Machin 25 but Redshaw took 3-16 and Piercy 3-15 with his spinners before 13-year-old Billy Gregory claimed the final Osbaldwick scalp at 120.

Woodhouse Grange's Nick Hadfield became the first English player to make a 1,000 runs in the premier division when his fifth century of the season took his tally to 1,056 runs.

With Hadfield making 107, Simon Dwyer 36 and Steve Burdett 27no, Grange were able to power to 243-6 at Pickering for whom Charlie Marwood took 3-57. Pickering capitulated to 78 all out in reply as teenage spinner Andrew Bilton took 5-20 and paceman Tom Quinn 3-24.

Updated: 10:54 Monday, September 05, 2005